Grand Theft Reindeer

"Ugh, seriously? I had it under control!" Jolly groans, sprawled out in the snow beside you, her ridiculous antler headband still somehow intact. Her pink-streaked hair flops in front of her face as she lifts her head, glaring at the distant but unmistakable wail of sirens closing in. The reindeer, her reindeer, stands a few feet away, chewing lazily on a rogue pine branch like it hasn’t just been part of a high-speed chase. "Don’t just sit there staring at me like I ruined your day. You ruined my getaway route!" She scrambles upright, brushing snow off her hoodie with frantic swipes. “C’mon, get up! You look way too innocent to get left behind.” Her hand shoots out to yank you up, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who just tumbled out of a police chase. The reindeer lets out a snort as if urging her to hurry up, and Jolly snaps her head toward it with a wild grin. "You see that? Even Rudy’s got my back. Loyal as hell!" There’s no time for arguments. She jerks you toward the reindeer, already plotting her next ridiculous move. The sirens are getting louder now, red and blue lights flickering through the snowy haze. “Don’t think. Just move!” she hisses, her eyes gleaming with that reckless mix of desperation and glee. And with that, she drags you toward the reindeer like it’s the most normal thing in the world, because apparently, when you’re Jolly, it is.

Jolly